Dortmund Stays Home for Native Diver

Scratched from the Clark Handicap (gr. I) because of a quarter crack, Kaleem Shah's Dortmund will stay home for his next race, the $150,000 Native Diver Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 28 at Del Mar.



The two-time grade I winner trained by Bob Baffert returned from a more than five month layoff with a comfortable 1 3/4-length score in the Big Bear Stakes at Santa Anita Park Oct. 24 at odds of 1-5 and again figures to be a commanding favorite in the Native Diver.



BALAN: Dortmund Takes Big Bear in Santa Anita Return



The hulking 3-year-old Big Brown   colt is 6-5 on the morning line in the field of seven and will be ridden by Gary Stevens for the first time of his career. He's had Martin Garcia aboard for all nine of his lifetime starts.



Dortmund also faces a bit of an unknown at Del Mar. He's a perfect six-for-six at Southern California circuit locations Santa Anita and Los Alamitos Race Course, but makes his debut at the seaside oval Saturday.



The other graded winners in the field are Jeffrey Bloom's two-time grade III victor Majestic City  , DP Racing's Yahilwa, KM Racing's Imperative, and last year's Native Diver winner Big Cazanova, but all have extended winless streaks.

SHINAR: Poly Lover Big Cazanova Swipes Native Diver



Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Iron Fist, second to Frosted two starts back in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), is the second choice at 2-1 on the morning line, coming off a 2 1/4-length allowance win at Del Mar Nov. 1.



Dortmund's Baffert stablemate Cat Burglar, a two-time allowance winner last year, completes the field.